Gerrard Word Of Warning For Ashley!

13 January 2013 11:47

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has warned boss Brendan Rodgers against pinning all his faith in youth . and perhaps Mike Ashley should listen.

Ashley says he has "mapped out Newcastle's future and we will be bringing young players to this club, and building them through our youth system. They will be the future of the club."

But, to date, how many of Ashley's "Young Guns" have broken into the Premiership with success?

Yes we have seen the kids drafted into the side, to replace the injured, but we are currently undergoing a relegation fight.

Under Ashley's reign we have seen DOZENS of highly rated youngsters go through the system, and we still haven't found a Gerrard . or anything even close.

Since Rodgers' arrival at Anfield in the summer the Reds have opted to sign young players.

But Gerrard, 32, is unsure whether that is the right policy to ensure Liverpool, currently eighth in the Barclays Premier League, get back to challenging for the Champions League places again.

The England midfielder cited the signing of Gary McAllister - who arrived at Anfield as a 35-year-old in 2000 - as crucial to his own development and believes balancing the age of the squad is imperative.

Gerrard: "I disagree with the policy to be honest.

"I can understand the policy that everyone wants young, bright, British players - but I don't agree 100% that that should be the only way. I learned bucket loads from Gary McAllister.

"The main example at the moment is if Chelsea don't keep Frank Lampard. Someone is going to get a bargain. What is he, 34?

"It's not my business what Chelsea do but if they don't renew Frank's contract someone else is going to get a really good player for a few years."

At St James' Park Alan Pardew has warned the Newcastle United young guns who think they have “made it” that they will be heading for the exit door unless they get their acts together – and soon.

Alan Pardew: “We have had a wake-up call in terms of younger players.

“Playing three or four of them at a time will be very difficult for them – that’s in their defence.

“On the negative side, they should be doing better. They need to work harder and improve their work ethic.

“It is a lesson to Adam Campbell and to Remie Streete that when you come in you have to be ready.

“Therefore the next 17 games for Ferguson, Sammy Ameobi and Tavernier is a massively important period for them.

“In the summer – trust me – I will be making changes to that if I don’t see better performances from them.

“Whether they go out on loan, whether they are in the first team here or in the development team.

“It is all done for them.

“You could argue if you were a supporter that is struggling to find the money for their ticket, why is that the case?

“Why aren’t they working harder or doing jobs?

“Sometimes I think to myself they should do the jobs as well. But you are talked out of it because it is more professional to work on their game.

“Let’s start seeing that then. If they aren’t good enough they will go – the whole development group.

"I was far from impressed by the second string’s 3-2 defeat at Bedlington this week.

“We got beat by a non-league team and really out-muscled on a difficult pitch. We can make loads of excuses.

“At the end of the day we are running out of excuses, the whole group is going to get a real wake up call in the summer – unless I see some significant improvement.

“When I played under Steve Coppell at Palace I’d played 14 or 15 games and I suggested I was on low money.

“And he kindly suggested to me to knock on his door after I’d played 50 games. That is about right.

“The problem we have is the money has changed considerably from my time.

“They are getting very, very well paid for not having to do a great deal.

“Our fans need to know that they are working extra hard. We had to really push them otherwise they will miss the boat.”